Did you know that your roof has a ventilation system? According to Hunker, proper ventilation for your roof helps your home's rafters and roof both last longer. That ventilation comes from your soffits. Together, your roof, soffit, and siding make up most of your home's exterior. Read on to learn all about how to coordinate them for maximum style and aesthetics.
What Is a Soffit?
Located between the edge of your roof and the walls of your house, soffits allow airflow between your attic and the outdoors.
The beating sun slowly superheats the air in your attic. This hot air can damage a roof, which leads to moisture in your home and possible mildew and wood damage.
Soffits ventilate that heated air to prevent moisture buildup and roof damage.
Soffits add character to your home, but they're functional as well since they aid in ventilation and help improve the integrity of a house. These days, all modern homes have soffits installed in them.
Types of Roofs
While asphalt shingles remain the most common type of roof in the United States, there are many others to choose from. Material types vary in appearance, cost, and functionality.
In hotter parts of the country, clay and concrete tiles tend to be more popular. Using this style, you can create a beautiful Spanish-style home with a roof that will last for decades.
Metal roofing is also becoming more popular. It is affordable, environmentally friendly, and has a uniquely modern appearance.
Wood roofing is a great choice if you're going for a more rustic aesthetic for your home. However, it doesn't last as long in humid climates and can be quite expensive.
Types of Siding
Modern technology allows you to choose bricks in many different colors, not just the traditional red. Brick siding is both durable and aesthetically-pleasing though it can be moderately expensive to install.
Vinyl siding is a popular option that's also affordable. New vinyl siding can imitate the appearance of wood and stone and is much easier to repair.
Did you know it's fairly easy to install a mailbox on vinyl siding? If you're interested in moving your mailbox for either aesthetics or convenience, this is something to consider.
Wood is another affordable option that has a unique aesthetic some people love.
Metal sidings can also be great choices for certain style homes.
Coordinating Your Soffit, Roof, and Siding
Your soffit, siding, and roof need a combination of similarity and contrast to create a pleasing combination. A good rule of thumb is to have two out of three matching colors, and two out of three matching textures.
For example, you could have both a wood roof and wood siding. Imitation wood works, too. You might then pick another texture for the soffit, such as vinyl or metal to create a complementary contrast.
For color, you might have the soffit and the siding both shades of blue, while the roof could have a contrasting grey or brown color.
Make Your Home Look Its Best
We hope you learned something helpful in this brief piece on coordinating your roof, siding, and soffits.
Feel free to look at other homes for inspiration now that you know more about both a house's soffit and siding.
To learn more about how to find quality soffits for your home and other home improvement tips, check out installation tips and more.
